Irwin I. Cohn
Interviewed by Mary Baroff
July 1975
Office of Irwin Cohn
Irwin I. Cohn
Video 01:06:03
Irwin I. Cohn
Audio 01:06:03
Abstract
Irwin Cohn talks about his early life growing up in Detroit. He talks about his father’s company which operated until 1917: Detroit Dry Goods Wholesale Company. He talks about life revolving around the synagogues and temples, and how they worked to help immigrants. He was a proponent of Hebrew Schools and discusses his role of support for Hebrew and religious education. Irwin also discusses his role with the Jewish Welfare Federation, working to raise money for the Federation, and his involvement with the creation of Sinai Hospital. He also talks about the Jewish Children’s Home and finding the property for Camp Tamarack. Irwin speaks about then need for cohesion within the Jewish community and the need for families and young people to continue to serve the community.
History of Narrator
Irwin I. Cohn was born in Detroit in 1896 and grew up on the lower East Side near Gratiot. His parents emigrated from Lithuania in the early 1880s. His father was a peddler of dry goods throughout the week, returning home in time for Shabbat. Later, his father started a wholesale business. Cohn graduated from Cass Tech High School and University of Michigan Law School and joined the law firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn.
Cohn was prolific in his service to many organizations. He served as chairman of the Allied Jewish Campaign, secretary of Sinai Hospital, president of Hillel Foundation at University of Michigan, vice-president of United Hebrew Schools, and president of the Hannah Schloss Old Timers, among many other positions he held. He was also a strong supporter of Israel.
Cohn died on November 10, 1984.
Transcript
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Important Names
Credit as: Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives. Oral History Interview, Irwin I Cohn Oral History Interview, July 1975.